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| JusAvgustin6. 01. 2010 12:00:11 |
so-called metro alpinists, or why don't crampons walk by themselves?
suddenly it's a trend that everyone buys technical winter boots, winter gear, less than half of them use it or actually know why they bought it. the other half bought them because they're discounted, look cool, and they can brag to friends, look what badass boots I have... yesterday I noticed people went crazy for Scarpa Omega. so I asked one if he thinks conditions will be good for climbing soon? he said, climbing?! I don't do that, I bought the boots because they're cheap?! I'm not crazy to climb! and I want to go to the mountains, to some hut. Such people then buy ice axes (because there are two), climbing crampons (because first two teeth are vertical) etc... recession?! then we wonder why so many accidents in the mountains?!
besides, it's not cheap, boots 300, ice axes (both 300), climbing crampons 160 up. that's almost 800 euros, why? so that he goes to mountains, falls and can't even stop himself. but main thing, he has top gear... point is, for example, I or anyone reading this save for months to buy gear: crampons (climbing), I do various jobs to buy ice axes (one by one 2 months apart), for boots I worked a whole month... I know how to use the gear etc... consumerism is a bad disease yes that we all got, but some at least get something out of it. annapurna packed full, k2 alpinist same, in mammut we all know why no crowd! turned out biggest discount there!
I go to mountains for myself not to show gear to others!
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| ugn6. 01. 2010 12:31:22 |
if you worked a whole month for boots, maybe it means you're not very efficient at your job..?
but really don't know why someone shouldn't buy expensive gear even if doesn't need it, if he likes, or what's bad about it..
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| JusAvgustin6. 01. 2010 12:49:03 |
ok, it wasn't a whole month , because no point in gear? then you see them, hehe those are scenes worth filming... 
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| JusAvgustin6. 01. 2010 12:58:20 |
in mammut store in lj they have a few last pieces absurdly discounted. worth checking... from annapurna here are items, since no web page http://sportman.si/, in alpinist or K2 ALL! items discounted, in iglu crowd (was yesterday)
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| JusAvgustin6. 01. 2010 13:46:48 |
anyway in kibuba also totally crazy last days. daily deals are huuuuuuuuuuge discounts, true they sell out fast but can reorder. boots they don't have much offer... since brands warmpeace, sprayway, raveltik etc still establishing no 50 or more % margin on product. totally fine stuff for little money.
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| ugn6. 01. 2010 14:00:02 |
yeah, it's funny but true, usually the one in the shiniest gear is the easiest to overtake uphill...
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| JusAvgustin6. 01. 2010 14:03:49 |
, he's so out of breath he can't even greet back...
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| IgorZlodej6. 01. 2010 15:24:00 |
Lately there's a ton of writing about gear, discounts and store visits, and another hundred tips, you know almost everything, and I'm damn curious if you only talk about it or ever go to the mountains. Reports are damn few or nothing from some.
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| m're 16. 01. 2010 15:47:07 |
Otherwise I'm more inclined to Igor's stance, but still.
Who and why needs some gear? Who when buying a car asks why all from A to Z can do over 150 km/h if max allowed speed on roads is officially only 130 km/h? Gear for the hills is currently quite fashionable. That's how it is whether we like it or not. Fact is today's average Šmarna gora visitor is in many cases better equipped than pioneer conquerors of highest peaks in Alps, Himalayas etc.
I still think it's a bit less bad if people in hills are over-equipped than the opposite.
Thing can become dangerous if the other side is neglected, which is necessary for safety in mountains - knowledge and experience. Gear can indeed give false sense of security and can't replace lack in aforementioned categories. Quarks won't help anyone if they don't master basic ice axe arrest technique and no one will dig anyone out of avalanche if beacon is off and packed in backpack - just two most banal examples.
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| ksena6. 01. 2010 17:13:14 |
Let me add mine too. For the average hillwalker who goes to high mountains only in dry and good conditions, good footwear without other aids is of course very important. I'm in the mountains every weekend if possible and if weather is acceptable. I notice that awareness regarding gear has greatly improved among Slovenians. There are exceptions who think high mountain tour is a walk to nearby "hillock" and their footwear matches. And there are hikers who go to that same "hillock" with proper mountaineering boots. I agree with M're that gear in or on backpack doesn't help if you don't know how to use it. Especially walking with crampons and ice axe can be more dangerous than not for those not skilled. That's why there are courses that give enough info to anyone wanting to gain knowledge on moving and behaving in mountains in all conditions... experience adds only "mountain mileage". First with more experienced, then solo variants possible.
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| heinz6. 01. 2010 18:33:36 |
Those 6 heroes who pushed through Kot for New Year's were apparently quite well equipped. Probably some of them attended a course in the past (they made a bivouac).
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| tol7. 01. 2010 10:35:45 |
Does anyone from Kranj or Ljubljana have info on discounts at Promontana store?
Worth checking? Mainly buying boots.
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| spetovar7. 01. 2010 10:36:36 |
Yeah that's how it is, because someone starting a bit with winter hiking, and if they have an alpinist friend, definitely gets ice tools instead of hiking ice axe. That's 100% because that alpinist tells him you immediately see difference between regular hiker and alpinist (of course by ice axe).
Then those Quarks and similar, when you can't even stick it properly in snow because it's so curved.
As for usage, it's still desperate although improving as far as I see...
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| JusAvgustin8. 01. 2010 11:03:58 |
especially two ice axes (ice tools) are not meant for hiking but harder approaches (couloirs, waterfalls, mixed routes)(not possible in summer). with two ice axes you can also walk, nowhere says you can't. Proper use of ice tools and climbing crampons is necessary before going to couloirs, waterfalls, mixed routes. Who does this should know all that...
Ice climbing is pure pleasure of its kind
regarding sales of ice tools: still need to dig deep in pocket, this stuff ain't cheap!
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| spetovar8. 01. 2010 13:49:32 |
Like I said. Someone gets ice tools for hikes, waste of money. Ice tools well over 100 €, hiking axes under 100 €. Kibuba has very good ice axe sections written. If you hike and don't climb with axe, it mostly serves for self-arrest in case of slip. With some knowledge also for belaying. They taught us: Moment crampons on feet, poles away and axe in hand. And obligatory (!) gloves on hands! Of course depends on mountaineer but I agree. Problem with hiking axes: shafts 50-70 cm long. OK for steep slope, helps walking. But on lesser slope doesn't reach ground. So I got extendable one. http://www.stubai-bergsport.com/ice_axe_tour_lite_telescope_with_gripper_with_wrist_loop_produkte_art_aWQ9ZnVscG1lcyZsPWVuZ2xpc2gmc3VjaGU9JmVpbnRyYWc9NTYz.html
But has drawbacks: Not recommended to belay with extended axe. Used only for walking (and arrest in fall).
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| tol8. 01. 2010 14:13:01 |
Is there perhaps an ice axe onto which you can attach a shovel to the tip?
It seems pointless to carry a shovel and an ice axe, if you could attach the shovel head to the ice axe.
Has any manufacturer already brought something like that to market?
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| spetovar8. 01. 2010 14:16:32 |
Hmmm... Haven't seen that yet, but don't know if it would be that practical. You'd have to unscrew the spike from the shaft end first, then screw on the shovel. Which wouldn't be easiest with gloves, plus threads could freeze. All that would extend the already short time to dig someone out...
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| viharnik8. 01. 2010 15:30:18 |
Of course it exists. It's Grivel! The Evolution ice axe model has option for metal shovel (just blade part), weighs around 500g.
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| heinz8. 01. 2010 16:08:16 |
Boots not exactly Alpina Teton- for multi-day winter expeditions etc, but still suitable (with good impregnation) even for shorter 1-day mountain trips in dry snow, currently on sale at Alpina: Mont and Mangarat, latter under 70 €. Also at Hervis and Mercator.
What do you say?
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